01.09.2018

Reliable Machining of Structural Parts Susceptible to Vibration

How customers machine demanding structural parts economically and reliably with a complete solution from MAPAL.

Thin-walled components can be found in a wide variety of industries. These components are often manufactured close to the final contour, but still require many machining tasks. The special challenge during machining is that these parts are very unstable and susceptible to vibrations due to their design. This entails special requirements for process and tool design.

Twelve tools for complete machining are placed in front of a structural part, which is shown as blurred in the background.
  • Twelve tools for complete machining are placed in front of a structural part, which is shown as blurred in the background.

“It is important for our customers to machine these parts in one clamping set-up if possible”, emphasises Leander Bolz, Sales Manager of PCD tools at MAPAL. “In order to meet this requirement and to make all areas to be machined accessible for the tools as far as possible, reductions in the clamping set-up must be made. This means that the workpiece is not optimally supported and tends to vibrate”. Thin ribs, voids and interruptions to be machined as well as strongly fluctuating stock removal of the cast blank are also special conditions. In addition, a large number of tools are required for large parts with many machining operations. Leander Bolz: “Wherever possible, we therefore try to combine individual machining steps with combination tools. In this way, we reduce non-productive times and the number of tool stations required.”

MAPAL has a comprehensive understanding of the process with regard to the machining of unstable structural parts and is thus in a position to implement economical and reliable processes. Several starting points are of importance here. First of all, the cutting values can be finely adjusted so that rising vibrations can be avoided. Oscillations of the tool, which lead to vibrations and thus to poor tool lives and machining results, as well as oscillations of the workpiece must be avoided. The latter would cause the component to spring back against the cutting edge and could damage the tool. The second important aspect for fine tuning in the process design is the consideration of the basic tool body. Vibration is reduced by appropriate design and material selection. In addition, an intelligent arrangement of the cutting edges in shape and position keeps the cutting forces low. And finally, the machining process itself also offers possibilities for the reliable machining of vibration-prone components. Rethinking and choosing alternative sub-processes results in a changed distribution of forces that can increase process reliability. For example, the replacement of a solid drilling operation by a circular milling operation can stabilise the process.

Adapted tool designs make vibrations controllable

A rendering of the circular milling cutter for face and peripheral milling of the structural part.
With the circular milling cutter for face and circumferential milling, customers can work with maximum cutting values. 

For example, we used a circular milling cutter for face and circumferential milling to machine a suspension part because we had to contend with strong vibrations,” says Leander Bolz, explaining an example of a successfully adapted tool for structural parts. For this purpose, a reduced helix angle and a reduced number of teeth were used for circumferential milling (Z=3). With the resulting reduced machining forces, the vibrations are controllable. The subsequent face milling step of the tool, which is particularly susceptible to wear, is consequently carried out with economical ISO indexable inserts. With a contact width of 6 mm and a cutting depth of 60 mm, maximum cutting values can be achieved. In addition, the tool has been given a face geometry with Z=6 in order to machine another face milling operation on the part economically and in the shortest cycle time.

Cutting data:

  • vf = 2,700 mm/min
  • fz = 0.1 mm
  • n = 9,900 rpm
A rendering of the plunge milling cutter with optimised front geometry for machining the structural part.
The plunge milling cutter with optimised front geometry enables a safe process when machining a chassis part. 

An adapted plunge milling cutter is also used in a suspension part. The tool semi-circularly plunges into a tab and cuts over the centre as the depth increases. An optimised face geometry and chip flute design, a load-reduced cutting edge arrangement as well as the integration of vibration dampers in the clamping tool used keep vibrations to a minimum and enable a reliable process.

Cutting data:

  • vf = 1,200 mm/min
  • fz = 0.1 mm
  • n = 4,500 rpm
A rendering of the disc milling cutter for slot and facing of the structural part.
The disc milling cutter set for slot and facing has a specially adapted cutting edge engagement. 

With a disc milling cutter set, several ribs and chambers are grooved simultaneously and the
face surfaces are finish machined. In order to keep the milling process quiet and to prevent the chips from jamming, the cutting action has been specially adapted and a cut distribution realised. The tool reliably machines all areas in one operation, which is of great importance due to the demand for a high number of cycles.

Cutting data:

  • vf = 600 mm/min
  • fz = 0.07 mm
  • n = 1,500 rpm
Ein Rendering des Bohr-Fräswerkzeugs für die Vor- und Fertigbearbeitung der Befestigungsbohrungen am Strukturbauteil.
Das Bohr-Fräswerkzeug für die Vor- und Fertigbearbeitung von Befestigungsbohrungen ist mit fest gelöteten PKD-Schneiden und auswechselbaren ISO-Wendeschneidplatten besonders effektiv einsetzbar. 

Ein besonders interessantes Werkzeug, das ein Kunde für das robotergestützte Einbringen von Befestigungsbohrungen einsetzt, nennt Bolz als letztes Beispiel: „Hier handelt es sich in mehrerlei Hinsicht um ein Kombinationswerkzeug. Wir haben hier fest gelötete PKD-Schneiden für lange Standzeiten und für die stark verschleißanfällige Bearbeitung auswechselbare ISO-Wendeschneidplatten untergebracht. Darüber hinaus kombiniert das Werkzeug die Vor- und Fertigbearbeitung. Und führt sowohl eine Bohr- als auch eine Fräsoperation durch.“

Schnittwerte Fräsen: 

  • fz = 0,1 mm 
  • n = 3.800 min-1

Schnittwerte Bohren: 

  • fz = 0,08 mm 
  • n = 480 min-1​​​​​​​

Mit MAPAL zum sicheren Prozess

In unterschiedlichen Branchen müssen Kunden schwingungsanfällige, labile Bauteile prozesssicher bearbeiten. Dabei spielt das Beherrschen der konstruktionsbedingt auftretenden Vibrationen die wesentliche Rolle bei der Auslegung von Prozess und Werkzeugen. MAPAL ist in diesem Bereich ein erfahrener Technologiepartner, der durch eine Vielzahl an Stellschrauben bei der Prozessdefinition und -auslegung für sichere Prozesse sorgt.  
Twelve tools for complete machining are placed in front of a structural part, which is shown as blurred in the background.
MAPAL offers the complete package of process and tools for machining structural parts. 

Kathrin Rehor, PR Project Manager at MAPAL

Contact

Kathrin Rehor Public Relations Kathrin.Rehor@mapal.com Phone: +49 7361 585 3342


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